Attachable Hoods And Methods Of Modifying A Garment

ABSTRACT

A reversibly attachable garment hood that has a garment hood portion configured to cover a wearer&#39;s head and an extension portion extending downward from a bottom of the hood, the extension portion having a back surface and a front surface. One or more fastener components are connected to the back surface of the extension portion for connection to interacting fastener components on a garment. A kit for a reversibly attachable garment hood includes a hood having an extension portion extending from the bottom of the hood. First and second fastener components are included in the kit, the first components being configured to attach to the extension portion of the hood and the second components being configured to attach to a back surface of a garment. Instructions are included for attachment of the first and second fastener components and reversible attachment and detachment of the hood to the garment.

RELATED PATENT DATA

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/994,719, filed May 16, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the invention pertain to attachable hoods and to methods of modifying a garment including attachment of a hood.

BACKGROUND

Many garments such as coats, jackets, sweaters, etc. are equipped with a hood. The hood can provide warmth, protection from the elements and/or a certain look or style. Many other upper garments are provided without hoods. Sometimes, the wearer of a hoodless upper garment would prefer that hood be present on the garment to provide protection from the elements (wind, rain, snow, etc.), to provide warmth or to provide a certain look or style to the garment. It is desirable to develop alternative hood solutions to address these issues.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an example attachable hood in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of another example attachable hood in accordance with another embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of alternate attachment configurations in accordance with one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an attachable hood in accordance with one embodiment shown in conjunction with a garment configured for attachment of the hood in accordance with one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of an attachable hood in accordance with another embodiment shown in conjunction with a garment configured for attachment of the hood in accordance with one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates an optional component that can be utilized in one aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The invention pertains generally to providing reversibly attachable hoods that can be attached to and removed from an otherwise hoodless upper garment. Aspects of the invention are described generally with reference to FIGS. 1-5.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, a hood 10 is depicted having a head-covering portion 12. The head-covering portion has an inside 13 which is worn against the wearer's head. The hood 10 additionally comprises an extension portion 14 that extends from the lower edge of the head-covering portion 12. The extension can extend along an entire bottom of the head-covering portion as illustrated, or can extend less than the full width of the bottom of the head-covering portion.

Head-covering portion 12 can be made of one or more of a variety of materials. Example materials for head-covering portion 12 include but are not limited to one or more of cotton, wool, denim, fleece, leather, faux leather, nylon, polyester, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), rayon, flannel, microfiber, velvet, velveteen, velour, linen, terrycloth, mesh, knit, jersey, tweed, lace, silk, satin, sateen, twill, suede, quilted, plastic, TYVEC, gortex, spandex, taffeta, fur, faux fur, sequins, chain, down, fill, jewels, faux jewels, embossing, embroidery, thread, zipper, logo and emblems. The extension portion can also comprise one or more of the materials set forth above with respect to the head-covering portion. The material of extension portion 14 can be the same or can differ from the head-covering portion.

The style of the hood is not limited to the specific style depicted in the figure. Further, the hood can comprise any color or number of colors. The head-covering portion can comprise a single piece of material, with or without accessories. Alternatively, two or more material parts can be sewn together to make up the head-covering portion. In certain embodiments, additional design elements (not shown for simplicity purposes) can be utilized including but not limited to a bill portion, a baseball cap (removable or built-in), fur embellishments, chain, jewel, stone or metal embellishments, wire shaping material, drawstring, logos, advertising, embossing, emblem, an additional collar, ribbon(s), or stick on accessories.

Hood 10 can be provided in a variety of sizes including one or more child sizes, one or more women's sizes, and one or more men's sizes. Oversized hoods are also contemplated.

Extension portion 14 can be provided with a fastener material 16, such as one portion of a hook and loop material (i.e. either the hook side or the loop side of the fastener material, which can be referred to as a first fastener component). Alternatively, magnetic fastener material can be utilized in place of hook and loop material. Other fasteners can include a strip of first snap components, a zipper, or alternative fasteners including but not limited to components of lacing fasteners, hook and eye fasteners, button and button hole fasteners, etc. The fastener material can be attached to a backside surface 15 of the extension portion of the hood as depicted in FIG. 1.

Fastener 16 can be provided in a single strip as illustrated in FIG. 1. Alternatively, multiple strips can be utilized rather than a single strip, and/or the fastener can be segmented fastener material as illustrated in FIG. 2, attached to outside surface 15 of the extension portion.

Referring to FIG. 3, such depicts example alternative options for shape and size of fastener material, such as hook and loop fastener. For example, in particular embodiments a single strip 16 a of fastener material can be utilized. This strip can span essentially an entire length of the corresponding extension portion of the hood, or can span only a part (such as a back region) of the extension portion. In certain aspects, the strip can be divided into segments 16 b. The segments can be rectangular or square as illustrated. In alternate embodiments, round pieces 16 c, can be utilized. The segments shown (16 b, 16 c) can be positioned along extension portion 14 such that individual of the segments are spaced from adjacent segments along an entire length of extension 14 or along only a partial length of extension 14.

The size of the various forms of fasteners shown in FIG. 3 can depend upon the fabric weights of the hood as well as the upper garment (discussed below). Collar size and the size of the extension portion of the hood may also help determine the fastener size. Where hook and loop fastener is utilized, a strip (16 a) can have a length (l) of up to 20 inches with a width (w) of from 0.5 inches to about 4.0 inches. Segments 16 b can be of various lengths l and spacing to have an overall length of up to about 20 inches. The width of the segments can be, for example, 0.5 inches to about 4.0 inches. For the round pieces 16 c, a diameter (d) can be from about 0.5 inches to about 4.0 inches. Alternative shapes of fastener materials are also contemplated.

Fastener material 16 can be attached to the extension portion of the hood (and to the upper body garment, see below) by, for example, stitching, adhesive, ironing, etc. The fastener material is not limited to a particular color and is currently available in, for example, blue, black, green, white, yellow, red, and in mixed shades and patterns.

Referring next to FIG. 4, hood 10 is shown with an example corresponding upper body garment 50. Garment 50 can be, for example, a coat, a jacket, a sweater, a shirt, a blouse, a dress, a cape or a vest. Garment 50 can comprise one or more materials selected from, for example, of cotton, wool, denim, fleece, leather, faux leather, nylon, polyester, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), rayon, flannel, microfiber, velvet, velveteen, velour, linen, terrycloth, mesh, knit, jersey, tweed, lace, silk, satin, sateen, twill, suede, quilted, plastic, TYVEC, gortex, spandex, taffeta, fur and faux fur.

Garment 50 can be collared as illustrated, or can alternatively lack any collar. In the depiction of FIG. 4, garment 50 has a front side, a collar 52 having a fold line 53 and a fastener material 56. The fastener material 56 can be positioned entirely below the fold line on front surface 54 as depicted to allow the collar to fold down after attachment of the hood, or alternatively can cross the fold line such that the collar remains up after attachment. Alternatively, a non-folding collar can be present.

Fastener 56 is preferably the opposing side (second component) of the hook and loop material, magnetic material or alternative fastener material, relative to the fastener 16 provided on hood 10. For example, fastener 16 can be the hook portion and fastener 56 can be the loop portion of hook and loop material. Alternatively, the hook portion and the loop portion positioning may be reversed. Preferably, fastener 56 is of a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of corresponding fastener material 16.

As show in FIG. 4, fastener 56 can be positioned on an inside face 54 of collar 52. The fastener 16 on the hood 10 is configured to attach hood 10 to the inside of garment 50 by joining fastener 16 on the outside of hood 10 to fastener 56 on the inside of the collar of hood 50. The joining is reversible and the hood can be removed by pulling the fasteners 16, 56 apart from each other.

In embodiments where no collar is present on garment 50 (not shown), fastener 56 can be attached to the garment below the inside back neckline of the garment. Attachment of the hood 10 to garment 50 involves placing the extension portion of hood 10 within the garment and pressing together the opposing fastener portions 16, 56. In general, fastener 56 can be described as being attached to garment 50 in a neck area of garment 50.

An alternative aspect of the invention is depicted in FIG. 5. As illustrated fastener 16 can be placed upon an inside surface of hood extension 14. Correspondingly, fastener 56 can be placed on an outside surface 58 of collar 52. In the joined configuration, collar 52 remains up due to the presence of the attached hood. However, in this configuration, rain and wind is less likely to pass beneath the collar since the attached hood extension overlaps the outside of the collar. Collarless garments can also be utilized with this embodiment. Fastener material 56 can be placed below the neckline on an outer surface of the collarless garment and the hood 10 can attach by placing the extension portion over the back of the garment an pressing together fasteners 16 and 56.

The invention also includes a kit for adding a hood to a garment in a reversible manner. The kit can provide a hood as discussed above. Fastener 16 can be pre-attached to the hood or can be provided separately to be attached to the hood by the user. Fastener 56 is also included in the kit. The fasteners can be premeasured and cut to size or can be provided in a single piece to be measured and cut by the user. The kit can further provide directions to the user for construction and use of the reversibly attachable hood. Accordingly, the user may utilize the hood in conjunction with the upper body garment(s) of their choosing.

Referring to FIG. 6, an optional hood component 60 can be provided with the attachable hoods of the invention. Component 60 can be an interface strip that can have a front surface 62 that will lie against a wearer's neck. A back surface 64 of the interface strip can interface the inside face 54 of the collar 52 of a garment 50. An appropriate fastener 68 can be provided along a backside surface 64 of the interface strip. Fastener 68 can preferably be configured to mirror the fastener 56 on garment 50 for reversible joining to attachment 56 (for example, fastener 68 can be an opposing type hook or loop fastener portion relative to fastener 56).

Optional component 60 can be utilized to cover fastener 56 on garment 50 when hood 10 is not attached to prevent irritation to the wearer due to the presence of fastener 56 on the garment. Although fastener 68 of the optional component 60 is described as being a hook-and-loop type material, fastener 68 can comprises any of the attachment counterparts that correspond to the type of fastener 56 utilized on garment 50 to interact with the hood fastener 16 (see various fastener types set forth above).

Methodology of the invention includes reversibly attaching a hood to a garment. An appropriate garment can be provided to have any of the fastener counterparts (first fastener components) set forth above. Methodology can include attachment of such fasteners to the garment. Corresponding interacting fastener components are provided on a hood. The interacting fastener components on the hood can be attached (reversibly) to the fastener components on the garment. For example, the hood can be attached to the garment by joining of opposing hook and loop components, opposing snap components, opposing hook and eye components, opposing lacing and lacing hooks, lacing holes etc., interacting magnetic components, or other fastener components set forth above.

In compliance with the statute, the subject matter disclosed herein has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the claims are not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise example embodiments. The claims are thus to be afforded full scope as literally worded, and to be appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A reversibly attachable garment hood comprising: a garment hood portion configured to cover a wearer's head; an extension portion extending downward from a bottom of the hood, the extension portion having a back surface and a front surface; and one or more fastener components connected to the back surface of the extension portion.
 2. The garment hood of claim 1 wherein the fastener components comprise a member of the group consisting of a loop portion of a hook and loop fastener material, a hook portion of a hook and loop fastener material, and a magnetic fastener material.
 3. The garment hood of claim 1 wherein the fastener components comprise one or more of a strip, a series of individual pieces having a rectangular shape, and a series of individual pieces having a round shape.
 4. The garment hood of claim 1 wherein the fastener components are configured for reversible attachment to corresponding receiving fastener components positioned on an inside surface of an upper body garment.
 5. The garment hood of claim 4 wherein the upper body garment is selected from the group consisting of a coat, a jacket, a sweater, a shirt, a blouse, a cape and a vest.
 6. The garment hood of claim 4 wherein the inside surface is an inside portion of a collar.
 7. The garment hood of claim 6 wherein the inside portion of the collar is below a fold line in the collar such that the collar remains folded when the hood is attached.
 8. The garment hood of claim 4 wherein the inside surface is below a neckline of a back of the garment.
 9. The garment hood of claim 4 wherein the upper body garment comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of cotton, wool, denim, fleece, leather, faux leather, nylon, polyester, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), rayon, flannel, microfiber, velvet, velveteen, velour, linen, terrycloth, mesh, knit, jersey, tweed, lace, silk, satin, sateen, twill, suede, quilted, plastic, TYVEC, gortex, spandex, taffeta, fur and faux fur.
 10. The garment hood portion of claim 1 wherein the hood comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of cotton, wool, denim, fleece, leather, faux leather, nylon, polyester, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), rayon, flannel, microfiber, velvet, velveteen, velour, linen, terrycloth, mesh, knit, jersey, tweed, lace, silk, satin, sateen, twill, suede, quilted, plastic, TYVEC, gortex, spandex, taffeta, fur, faux fur, sequins, chain, down, fill, jewels, faux jewels, embossing, embroidery, thread, zipper, logo and emblems.
 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the extension portion comprises differing materials than the hood portion.
 12. The method of claim 1 wherein the extension portion comprises the same materials as the hood portion.
 13. A kit for a reversibly attachable garment hood, comprising: a garment hood having an extension portion extending from the bottom of the hood; one or more fastener sections, wherein each section comprises a first portion and a second portion configured to attach to the first portion, wherein the first portions are configured to attach to a back surface of the extension portion of the garment hood and wherein the second portions are configured to attach to an inside back surface of an upper body garment; and instructions for attachment of the fastener sections and reversible attachment and detachment of the garment hood to the upper body garment.
 14. The kit of claim 13 wherein the first portions are provided pre-attached to the extension portion of the garment hood within the kit.
 15. A reversibly attachable garment hood comprising: an open face garment hood portion configured to cover a wearer's head; an extension portion extending downward from a bottom of the hood, the extension portion having a back surface and a front surface; and one or more fastener components connected to the front surface of the extension portion.
 16. The garment hood of claim 15 wherein the fastener components comprise a member of the group consisting of a loop portion of a hook and loop fastener material, a hook portion of a hook and loop fastener material, and a magnetic fastener material.
 17. The garment hood of claim 15 wherein the fastener components comprise one or more of a strip, a series of individual pieces having a rectangular shape, and a series of individual pieces having a round shape.
 18. The garment hood of claim 15 wherein the fastener components are configured for reversible attachment to corresponding receiving fastener components positioned on an outside surface of an upper body garment.
 19. A method of modifying a garment, comprising: providing a hood having one or more first fastener component attached to a lower portion of the hood; providing a garment having one or more second fastener components positioned proximate a neck area of the garment; and joining the first and second fastener components to attach the hood to the garment.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the first fastener component is one of a hook portion and a loop portion of a hook and loop fastener and the second fastener component is an opposing portion of the hook and loop fastener. 